Non-refillable cigar-box.



W. E. HOPKINS.

NON-REFILLABLB CIGAR BOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR.19, 1912.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914 WITNE SE5 CDLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

WILLIAM E. HOPKINS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

NON-REFILLABLE CIGAR-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 21, 1914:.

Application filed ,April 19, 1912. Serial No. 691,935.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. I-IorKiNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Non- Refillable Cigar-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will ens able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. p

This invention relates to an improved nonrefillable cigar box with stamp destroyer.

The object of the inventionis to provide a cigar box that will necessitate the destruc tion of certain parts of the same before the superimposed layers of cigars may be removed therefrom, thereby preventing fraudulent use of the box, such as refilling with the same or another brand of cigars, and the invention further consists in the certain details of construction and combination of parts, as will be fully described hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings;-Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a portion of one end of a cigar box showing the in ternal arrangement. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite end of the box. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one end of one of the metallic strips used for attaching the tape or ribbons to the inner side walls of the box, for the purpose of securing interposed sheets of paper. Fig. 4 is a similar view of the reverse side of said strip. Fig. 5 is a reduced perspective view of the folded gummed paper interposed between the layers of cigars, showing the arrangement of the several ribbons therethrough. Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the box showing the stamp destroyer attached in position. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of said destroyer. Fig. 8 is a face view of a modified form of stamp destroyer used in connection with bottles requiring revenue stamps. Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of the stamp destroyer showing the construction of the barbs.

To put my invention into practice and thereby provide a cigar box that cannot be refilled without detection, I first form a box 1, of a suitable size, the bottom of which is formed with a tongue 2, about its four edges,

which fits neatly in grooves provided in the side and end walls, the said sides and ends having a groove 3, located about the middle of their width, thus weakening these parts that the box may be easily destroyed. The box is fitted with a lid 4, and tacked together in the usual manner.

To prevent the removal of the first layer of cigars 9'without detection, I thread or weave two'or more sets of double ribbons 8 8. about the same, if in two sets said ribbons are located near the ends of the cigars, and if three sets are used, one set would be woven about the middle of the cigars. The free ends of these ribbons are attached to the bottom of the box at the end of the row of cigars, either by the use of an adhesive material or small tacks. It will be seen that when the first layer of cigars are secured in this manner, it will be impossible to remove the cigars intact without first removing or cutting several of the interwoven ribbons.

Placed upon the top of thesecond layer of cigars is a folded sheet of paper 10, the inner surface being gummed, and having arranged within the fold, several ribbons 13, extending in the direction of the length of said paper and a transverse ribbon 11 located at the center and beneath the first mentioned ribbons 13. The ends of the transverse ribbon 11 terminate in recesses 12 formed in the folded paper 10 and are used to remove and destroy the same. The free ends of the longitudinal ribbons are attached to the end walls of the box by the use of metallic strips 14, having integral barbs 16, said barbs being punched from angular cuts 15 and bent into form. These metallic strips 14L are attached to the end Walls of the box by means of a suitable tool, made for that purpose, and engage with and hold the longitudinal ribbons 13 rigidly.

To remove the second layer of cigars it is necessary to remove the folded sheet 10 upon the top of the same. This may be done by grasping the free ends of the transverse ribbon 11, and with an upward pull break the longitudinal ribbons 13, and at the same time destroy the folded paper 10. This folded paper ].0, being gunnned on its inner face is first moistened and pressed together before being placed in position in the box, thereby cementing the several ribbons permanently in place. A similar folded sheet is placed upon each of the several superimtil posed layers of cigars, and must be'destroyed before the cigars are removed.

By means of the above-describedarrangement it is obvious that the cigars cannot be removed withoutdetection, thereby affording protection to the manufacturer and to the general public.

To provide a stamp destroying device in connection with the above-described box, I form from thin metal a plate 5, adapted to be attached to the lid and front wall of the box, by means of integral barbs 6, as at Fig. 1, or by the use of tacks 6, asat Fig. 6. This plate is formed with a barbed surface 7 formed by a multiplicity of small punch openings, the construction of which will be best seen at Fig. .9, of the drawings.

The revenue stamp (not shown), is placed over the rough surface of the plate 5, and 2 when presseddown, will be perforated by a multiplicity of small openings, thereby destroying said stamp. It will be seen that, by reason of the number of openings formed in the stamp it could not be removed .intact, but would come off in pieces.

At Fig. 8, of the-drawings, I haveshown a modified form of the stamp destroyer for use upon the necks-of bottles. .This form comprises a body-portion having the roughened surface 7 and at either end are transverse extensions 17, each providedwith a slot 19 and tongue 18. This; plate is bent over the cork of the bottle and the extensions 17 about the; neck of the same, and there fastened by means of the tongues 18 inserted in the slots 19,.andlocked by a reverse bend of said tongues.

It is obvious: that thebox as herein described may beused for packing-various kinds of goods. Therefore I do not wish to confine myself to cigar boxes alone, as the invention is applicable to other boxes.

The box is made of frail material, such as thin wood, and few tacks or brads used in its construction. The bottom of the box, depends wholly upon the tongue and groove connection 9. and the interwoven ribbons S, S, for maintaining its position, and should said ribbons be out to remove the cigars, the sides and ends of the box would spring outwardly to release said bottom, thereby destroying the usefulness of said box.

Having thus described my invention, I claim '1. In combination with a box, a double sheet of paper interposed between each successive layers of goods, a series of longitudinally-arranged ribbons within the fold of said sheets, a means of attaching the ends of said ribbons to the inside walls of the box, and a transverse ribbon arranged within the fold of the paper and beneath the longitudinally-arranged ribbons.

2.'In combination with a box, a double sheet of paper arranged between each successive layers of goods, the one sheet cemented .to the other, a series of longitudinallyarranged ribbonswithin thefold of said sheets, and a means comprising metallic strips having barbs for attachment with the free ends of the-longitudinal ribbons and with the inner walls of the box.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presenceof two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. HOPKINS. \Vitnesses M. I-IAnRisoN, Monies IV. -MEAD.

'Oopies ofthis patent-may'beobtained'for five cents each, by-addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington; 'D. G. 

